Data collected in the MPHS showed that 7.6 million or 43% of Australians aged 15 years and over attended at least one sporting event during the 12 months prior to interview in 2009-10. More men (4.3 million or 50%) attended than women (3.3 million or 37%).

People aged 15 to 17 years had the highest rate of attendance (58%) while people aged 55 to 64 (35%) and 65 years and over (23%) had the lowest. Attendance rates varied between the states and territories, ranging from 38% in New South Wales to 59% in the Northern Territory.

The attendance rate at sporting events was higher for people who were employed full-time (55%) than for people who were employed part-time (45%).

In 2009-10 Australian Rules football had the highest rate of attendance by both men (1.7 million or 19%) and women (1.2 million or 13%). Most sports were popular for both men and women (see Table 5.2) although the attendance rates of women at many of them were consistently lower than the attendance rates of men.

Motor sports were attended by about twice as many men (966,200 or 11%) as women (456,800 or 5.2%). This was also true of Rugby league, which was attended by 969,100 men (11%) and 594,700 or 6.7% of women.

5.2 Spectators at selected sporting events(a), By sex - 2009-10

Number

Attendance rate

'000

%

MALES

Australian Rules football

1 660.8

19.3

Horse racing

1 015.3

11.8

Rugby league

969.1

11.2

Motor sports

966.2

11.2

Soccer (outdoor)

584.0

6.8

Cricket (outdoor)

488.2

5.7

Rugby union

366.1

4.2

Harness racing

221.8

2.6

Dog racing

183.5

2.1

Tennis (indoor and outdoor)

122.4

1.4

FEMALES

Australian Rules football

1 171.1

13.2

Horse racing

925.0

10.4

Rugby league

594.7

6.7

Motor sports

456.8

5.2

Soccer (outdoor)

354.8

4.0

Rugby union

209.3

2.4

Cricket (outdoor)

190.5

2.2

Harness racing

190.2

2.1

Tennis (indoor and outdoor)

171.3

1.9

Netball (indoor and outdoor)

123.0

1.4

(a) The top 10 ranked sports for males and females in terms of total attendances in 2009-10.

Comparable data on spectator attendance at sporting events are available for 2005-06 and 2009-10, for people aged 15 years and over.

The attendance rate of people aged 15 years and over at sporting events in 2009-10 (43%) was similar to the attendance rate in 2005-06 (44%). The attendance rate of men decreased from 52% in 2005-06 to 50% in 2009-10, whereas the attendance rate of women remained the same (37% in both 2005-06 and 2009-10). The only statistically significant change in spectator attendance rates by age group was for people aged 18 to 24 years, which reduced from 57% in 2005-06 to 51% in 2009-10.